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my best friend, mike wieringo, died yesterday.
he was a vegetarian.
he worked out everyday.
sometimes these things just happen.
he loved comics.
he loved drawing comics.
he felt very, very fortunate to have been working in comics.
he was very good at it.
his comics, like him, were full of life.
full of energy. full of fun and hope.
he was my best friend.
we worked together on spider-man, the x-men, tellos, and several other projects that will now never come to pass.
we grew up together with comics, though we were hundreds of miles away. we enjoyed all the same things about comics; the action, the adventure, the fun. he was a joy to work with. we laughed all the time. all the time.
comics were his life and he worked very hard on them.
sometimes 16 or 18 hours a day.
he loved comics and loved the people who read them.
he loved you.
he was my best friend.
he was my brother.
i will miss him more than i can say.
todd
mon. aug. 13 2007
41 comments:
Todd, thanks so much for posting those great pics of Mike. Still can't believe he's gone. Why do so many of the truly great ones die so young? I'm so sorry for you and his family, and for all of his friends. I'll miss him... probably more than I yet know...
I'm am so sorry you lost a best friend.
I'm sorry he's gone.
And selfishly, I'm sorry I won't see more of his work or more Tellos.
If there is anything us fans can do, let us know.
Todd,
That was a beautiful memorial to Mike. I've been reading all the posts around the web today, and the sheer number of messages speak volumes about what a special person he was. I am so very sorry for your loss.
SCOTT
Just heard. Todd, I am so sorry. Thinking of you.
Fred
Hi Todd-- Tommy and I wanted to extend our condolences to you. We all liked Mike so much, but I know that you two were especially close. I'm kind-of speechless right now, and I just wanted to say that we are thinking of you.
take care-
melissa & tommy lee
Todd, I am so sorry. Mike will always be missed & his memory will live on in his beautiful art.
By thy side,
Brien
Todd,(I sent you a message on Myspace so forgive any double posting) this was a very touching post, thanks for taking the time out to post it. I'm still in a haze while at work today, it's very, very hard on all of us fans, but I'm sure harder on those who are family and close friends. Mike was a hero to me. I always wanted to draw like him, but could never nail his 'style'. My condolences to you and everyone who knew him. I really wish I could have gotten to meet him, like I said he was a hero of mine. At least we'll always have the works he's done to remember him by. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.
Mike
Oh and on an added note, I second the posting about if us fans can do anything at all. Please let us know!!
I only met him briefly two or three times, and this news still made me incredibly sad. He had that much of an immediate impact on his fans.
I am so sorry for your loss.
That photo of Mike with Charlie really gets me! <3
Hope Charlie will be ok.
-Jes
So sorry Todd.
I hope someone is taking good care of Charlie, Mike probably would have been worried about that most of all.
Todd, I'm so sorry. I'm just in shock.
Brandon Peterson
I had the pleasure of meeting Mike a couple of times. He was a man of great talent, honor and grace. If you only knew his work, you'd admire him...but if you truly knew the man, you'd love him.
Todd, you have my condolences. Mike was a great artist and a very nice guy. Your work together is certainly a testament to this.
Todd, I am so sorry for your loss. The news of Mike's passing was an unbelievable shock, we've lost one of the greats. The work you two did together made me and many other people happy.
Your words here are so touching and the photos have me tearing up. I second, third, whatever it is now, if there is anything the fans can do let us know.
My condolences again, Todd.
I'll miss Mike and his talents terribly.
John Popa
Yeah, it definitely sucks that Mike is gone. He was just a fantastic talent and from what I've gathered a great person as well. It's one of those losses that just hits you hard.
From a fan of both your works, my condolences on the loss of your friend.
Todd,
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. He will be very much missed.
Todd, I'm so sorry for your loss, and for Mike's family. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mike but was looking forward to hopefully meeting him in Baltimore this year.
I just wanted to say that I'm going to miss the updates to his blog. The joy he must've felt drawing never failed to show through.
His family and friends are in my thoughts and prayers.
There is a heart shaped hole in the comics world where Mike Wieringo used to be.
Ever since Matt called me this morning and told me I've been a wreck. After I read your words this afternoon, Todd, I broke down again. Thank you.
No sarcasm if that's how my post sounded. You do Mike justice with your words.
Todd
Just read the awful news.
So sad.
You both did great work together.
Take care
Rocco
Holy... I don't know what to say. I'm thinking of you right now. You know I love you.
Todd, Much love to you, Mike's friends, and Mike's family during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Best,
Bob and Kim
I'm so sorry, Todd. I really am.
I have this, a kind of amusing story about you guys:
You and Mike are at a small con here in town. Not a big turn out, so you guys and the other creators there had lots of time to shoot the breeze with the fans. Mike's doing sketches, and I'm standing watching him when I see the stack of Tellos trades you guys are selling. I pick one up and kind of skim it and just kind of idly say to myself "Wow, this looks really good," and you look up and say, "Thanks, but don't flip through the second, there's a big reveal."
So a second later, Mike looks up us. He was busy with the sketches and I guess he only half heard what was going on. He looked at you with what I swear was the most accusatory look I've ever seen in his eyes, "Did you just tell him to look for the reveal?"
And you put on the most innocent face you could and said "I told him to be careful!" Mike gives you this kind of shifty eyed look and goes back to his drawing.
I'm convinced to this day you gave away Tellos' secret to some one who didn't know it around Mike. And that still makes me laugh.
Todd,
I didn't know Mike 1/100th as well as you did, but I know I'll miss him. I can't begin to know what you're going through. Hang in there.
PDS
Todd,
first let me say my heart goes out to you, I am so sorry you lost your best friend and if you need anything call me. (well E-mail me). I actuallt considered calling you to check up on you, but figured you would have plenty of saporty form other friends but still if you need anything let me know
I keeping thinking how Empty Heroes will seem next year without Mike sitting there next to you and Craig. I keep thinking about when the complete Tellos comes out in a couple of week if I will be able to sell it with out crying at the store. Then I think how much i will miss asking Mike when will Tellos: Scond Coming be out next year, nd then hear him tell me about what else he will be doing.
Mike was the first artist I ever bought a sketch from. Mike was one of the few people online who called me Dave and not Bart. I will never forget Mike.
I always appreciate Mike treating like more then just a fan, I have to go now i am starting to cry again
Todd, I am thankful that I took a moment to talk to Mike this past HeroesCon and thank him for his great storytelling skills in person. I'm thankful that you were able to do that Modern Masters book on him. I'm hopeful he had an inkling of how valued he was for his vast talents and kindness. I mourn for the loss of a great human being, who touched more lives than most folks ever will. Mike and you have myriad fans that you made feel like they were your friends as well. That's a rare kindness (for most pros) that Mike extended to everyone. Please feel free to lean on your fans/friends in the coming months. I cannot fathom your pain.
--Tim O'Shea
Sorry for your loss man. What a tragic event... so sad. I love yours and Mike's work together.
Mark
I'm down, broken, sad, almost sick.
What else can I say, Todd?...
Mike was one hell of a nice guy. A true gent. We could have been friends. We would have been if we hadn't been an ocean away from each other. I had the privilege to meet him and spend some really good time with him (and you, Todd). I even worked on a Tellos tale. I also helped him on one of his superman comics. Shoot! I'm gonna miss him. I already do. A lot.
Momo
I haven't been able to think of what to say about this... it's a tragity. One of my friends e-mailed this to me last night, and I think it says what I'd like to say best.
"I keep expecting to wake up and find I've just been having a really weird dream. Mike turned in monthly work that always looked amazing. He worked so steadily and with such consistency that it was easy to take him for granted. I can't think of a single time I was disappointed with his work. He easily had another twenty years of monthly work ahead of him. The artform has lost a hell of a lot with his passing. A hell of a lot. He was right up there with Romita SR and JR as my personal favorite Spiderman artists. I have the Spiderman Fantastic Four mini he did with Jeff Parker and I had held off on reading it until all four issues were out.
So many guys now can't do monthly books and the top guys now can't do a book without some of it looking substandard with fucked up perspectives or inconsistent anatomy. They have to cut corners to turn something in four months late. As a fan I am literally dumbfounded and heartbroken I can only imagine what his peers, collaborators and family must be going through.
God can be a real douchebag sometimes."
It's you guys, the two of you. You're the reason I got into comics to start with. You started it all. I was always glad of that because you both always seemed so approachable, so friendly and good-natured.
I hope you're doing okay. And thanks for that great post, so moving...I'm sure my boss wonders why I'm crying right now...heh.
hey todd, wanna stop by and say i´m sorry, mike seems to be a great guy. Everyone out there will miss him, and his art.
see you around
My boyfriend directed me to your blog, to see a picture of Charlie. We've stopped to talk to Mike at the last two Heroescons, and its just such a shock that he's gone.
I'm also a huge pet (especially cat) person, and hope that family or friends are taking care of Charlie.
Todd, I don't know what to say. I came by yours and Mike's table at Heroes Con in Charlotte every year. I would stop by and chat with you while I watched Mike draw. He was amazing and if having fans look over his shoulder bothered him, he didn't show it.
You don't know me, but I always felt like I was coming by to see old friends when I'd come by your table. My son and I started going when he was young (he's grown now, and married), and Mike was there every year. One year Mike drew a Question for my son, and he still proudly displays it on his Question website.
Another year, you guys signed a whole bunch of Tellos stuff for my daughter and her friend. Tellos is still her favorite comic book.
A couple years ago, Scott Kurtz came and when I came by your table, Mike asked me if I was familiar with PvP, the web comic. When I told him I was he told me to be sure to go by and see Scott. After reading Mr. Kurtz' blog yesterday, I understood why Mike did that.
Mike was just a flat-out decent man.
This year I kept missing Mike when I'd come by your table, and when I stopped by for the last time Sunday, I had missed him again. I'm always going to regret missing that last chance to tell him how awesome he was.
I hope you will still come to the con in Charlotte. I hope they dedicate next year's con to Mike.
I don't know how to end this. Like I said, you guys don't know me, but you always made me feel like you did, like I was welcome to hang out, like I was a part of this world of comic books that we all love.
I guess that's all I have to say.
Good thoughts your way, Todd.
Todd, I am so very sorry. I never got the chance to meet Mike, but I was very much looking forward to meeting him, working with him, and sharing yours and his vision.
Please know that my heart and prayers are with you and mikes family.
May he who heals all wounds, heal your broken heart, and you will know no more sorrow.
- Eli W.
I've been crying on and off since Monday, each day a little less, and I'm starting to laugh a little at the funny shit he used to say. I hope you are, too.
I wanted to say to you that I'm just devastated, not just for myself, but for you and Craig. As bad as I feel, I know you guys and the rest of Mike's family have it worse. I don't really pray, but I'm keeping you guys in my thoughts.
Mike was a keeper, and I wish more than anything that we could have kept him longer.
See you on Friday, pal.
Todd, my friend, you know how I feel. I just wanted to share the link to my memories of Mike with you here, in case you might see it before I see you on Friday.
http://richfaber.blogspot.com/2007/08/mike-wieringo.html
I really hope we can celebrate Mike's life, while we're saying goodbye.
Love ya, man.
Best,
Rich
Todd,
I'm so sorry. I loved reading your blogs and hearing about what you guys were doing together or planning on doing. You could tell how much his friendship meant to you by reading your blogs.
I know nothing I can ever say or do will take away the hurt and emptiness you are feeling but if you ever want to share some stories - I would love to hear them. You know how to reach me.
Hugs,
Wendy (Spoor)
Worst news in the past hundred years. Comics took a big hit, but you took one in the chest. Hang in there, Todd and family.
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